美联储降息降至，铜偏强震荡

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the given content 2. Core Views of the Report - Overseas, the expectation of the Fed's interest rate cut has been rising in August, with Powell's speech turning dovish. A September rate cut is almost certain, and the market anticipates two rate cuts this year. After Trump's intervention in the Fed's positions, the market doubts the Fed's independence, causing the US dollar index to decline. The specific magnitude of the Fed's rate cut still needs attention. The US has continued to suspend the implementation of a 24% reciprocal tariff on China for 90 days since August 12. China's August PMI data showed a slight increase, indicating a marginal improvement in economic sentiment [2][55]. - In July, China's imports of copper ore concentrates were around 2.56 million tons, a significant month - on - month increase, and port inventories of concentrates also rebounded from the bottom. After the smelter processing fees showed an upward inflection point earlier, they have continued to decline in recent periods. The sulfuric acid price has reached a high, and its contribution to smelter profits is expected to decline. Smelter maintenance will gradually start in September. Five smelters plan to conduct maintenance in September, involving a crude smelting capacity of 1 million tons. Domestic electrolytic copper production is expected to decline month - on - month in September. After the copper tariff is implemented, imported copper will flow back to the domestic market, and with the expected decline in domestic production in the second half of the year, imported copper will squeeze the domestic market and affect pricing [3][55]. - As of July 2025, the apparent consumption of copper was 1.3745 million tons. Although it is currently the off - season for consumption, the increasing investment in domestic power grid facilities and the growing penetration rate of new energy in the automotive sector are driving copper demand. The downstream electrical appliance production is expected to improve during the "Golden September and Silver October" period. However, due to the impact of the US tariff and trade policies in the first half of the year, the terminal household appliance industry had a rush to export, which over - drew the export demand for the second half of the year. The domestic policy of "replacing old with new" also advanced domestic demand [4][56]. - Overall, the recent overseas trading of the Fed's rate cut expectation and independence issues has led to a decline in the US dollar index, supporting the non - ferrous metal market. Fundamentally, copper production is expected to decline month - on - month after September, and imported copper may increase. With domestic copper inventories still at a low level, copper supply is expected to tighten. Although the demand in the second half of the year is expected to be weaker year - on - year due to the impact of copper tariffs and the over - drawn demand from the previous terminal rush to export, there is an improving trend in the downstream copper products and terminal industries. Copper prices are expected to fluctuate with an upward bias [4][56]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Macro Economic Environment - In the US, the annual rate of the PCE price index in July increased by 2.6%, the same as the previous month. The core PCE price index increased by 2.9% year - on - year in July, higher than 2.8% in June. The initial value of new non - farm employment in July was 73,000, lower than the market expectation of 110,000 and far below the monthly average of 168,000 in 2024. The unemployment rate was 4.2%, a 0.1 - percentage - point increase from the previous month, the same as in January this year and still at a historical low [5]. - China's manufacturing PMI in August was 49.4%, up 0.1 percentage point from the previous month, indicating an improvement in the manufacturing climate. The non - manufacturing business activity index was 50.3%, up 0.2 percentage points, and the composite PMI output index was 50.5%, up 0.3 percentage points. The non - manufacturing and composite PMI output indices continued to expand in August. The cumulative social financing scale in the first seven months was 23.99 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.12 trillion yuan year - on - year. At the end of July, M2 increased by 8.8% year - on - year, M1 increased by 5.6%, and RMB loans increased by 6.9% [7]. 3.2 Copper Supply Data - In the first half of 2025, the global copper mine production increased by about 2.7%, with the concentrate production increasing by 2.8% and the recycled refined copper production growing by 2.3%. The global refined copper consumption increased by about 4.8%, and China's apparent demand is estimated to have increased by about 7.5%. The net import of refined copper decreased by 2.6% [13]. - As of August 29, 2025, the inventory of imported copper concentrates at 16 Chinese ports was 550,000 tons, an increase of 77,000 tons from the previous month. Freeport Indonesia is expected to use 90% of its expiring copper concentrate export quota next month, with a significant expected increase in exports [16]. - As of August 29, the spot rough smelting fee (TC) in China was - 41.25 US dollars per dry ton, and the RC fee was - 4.12 US cents per pound. After the smelter processing fees showed an upward inflection point, they have continued to decline in recent periods. The sulfuric acid price has reached a high, and smelter maintenance will gradually start in September [19]. - In August, SMM's Chinese electrolytic copper production decreased by 280 tons month - on - month, a decrease of 0.24%, and increased by 15.59% year - on - year. The cumulative production from January to August increased by 978,800 tons, an increase of 12.30%. Five smelters have maintenance plans in September, involving a crude smelting capacity of 1 million tons. SMM expects domestic electrolytic copper production to decrease by 52,500 tons month - on - month in September, a decrease of 4.48%, and increase by 114,700 tons year - on - year, an increase of 11.42% [19]. - From January to July 2025, the total import volume was 2.2223 million tons, a 0.04% decrease from the same period last year. In July 2025, China's electrolytic copper imports were 336,000 tons, a 12.07% year - on - year increase. After the copper tariff is implemented, imported copper will flow back to the domestic market, and with the expected decline in domestic production in the second half of the year, imported copper will squeeze the domestic market [20]. - Since August, the price difference between refined and scrap copper has been widening but is still below the reasonable level. Affected by the new policy in September, downstream copper factories have little intention to purchase for inventory and are only making rigid - demand purchases. In July 2025, scrap copper imports were 190,000 tons, which is lower year - on - year but still at a historical high. Due to the US copper tariff and tight supply in Europe, scrap copper imports are expected to further decline [24]. 3.3 Copper Demand - As of July 2025, the apparent consumption of copper was 1.3745 million tons. Despite the current consumption off - season, the increasing investment in domestic power grid facilities and the growing penetration rate of new energy in the automotive sector are driving copper demand. The downstream electrical appliance production is expected to improve during the "Golden September and Silver October" period [30]. - According to Steel Union data, the operating load of refined copper rod enterprises has dropped to about 60%. The operating rate of copper tubes has also decreased in summer, and the terminal production orders are insufficient. However, the copper foil production has improved due to the demand from the new energy market. The overall operating rate of copper products is 61.6%, and it is expected to increase during the consumption peak season [33]. - From January to June, the investment in power grid projects was 291.1 billion yuan, a 14.6% year - on - year increase, reaching a record high for the same period. The investment in power source projects was 363.5 billion yuan, a 5.9% year - on - year increase. The power grid project is a rigid downstream demand for copper, supporting copper prices [38]. - From January to July, the floor area under construction of real estate development enterprises was 6.38731 billion square meters, a 9.2% year - on - year decrease. The new construction area was 352.06 million square meters, a 19.4% decrease. Although the housing market policies in first - and second - tier cities are being optimized, the market still needs time to stabilize and currently drags down copper demand [40]. - In July, the production and sales of new energy vehicles were 1.243 million and 1.262 million respectively, a 26.3% and 27.4% year - on - year increase respectively. From January to July, the production and sales of new energy vehicles were 8.232 million and 8.22 million respectively, a 39.2% and 38.5% year - on - year increase respectively. After September, the new energy vehicle market will enter the peak season, and with policy support, it is expected to drive consumption and support copper prices [43]. - In July 2025, China's air - conditioner production was 20.597 million units, a 1.5% year - on - year increase. From January to July, the cumulative production was 183.455 million units, a 5.1% cumulative increase. The demand for air - conditioners is currently in the off - season and is expected to increase slightly during the "Golden September and Silver October" period. From January to July, the cumulative production of household refrigerators was 59.632 million units, a 5.0% increase, and the cumulative production of household freezers was 15.512 million units, a 1.3% decrease. The refrigerator production is expected to rebound more strongly than air - conditioners during the "Golden September and Silver October" period. However, due to the US tariff policy in the first half of the year, the terminal household appliance industry had a rush to export, over - drawing the export demand for the second half of the year. The domestic policy of "replacing old with new" also advanced domestic demand [45]. 3.4 Inventory - As of September 2, 2025, the LME copper inventory was 158,800 tons, a 12.01% increase from the previous month and a 50.48% decrease from the same period last year. The COMEX copper inventory was 241,000 tons, an 8.24% increase from the previous month and a 600% increase from the same period last year. The global copper inventory increase is due to the release of inventory after the copper tariff implementation. The LME copper inventory has returned to a medium - level for the same period, and the global visible copper inventory is still low, supporting copper prices [48]. - As of September 3, 2025, the SHFE electrolytic copper inventory was 19,500 tons, an increase of 704 tons (4%) from the previous month and an 84.18% decrease from the same period last year. After the copper tariff implementation, the SHFE copper inventory has not increased significantly and is still at a low level. It is expected to remain low during the "Golden September and Silver October" period. The Shanghai bonded - area copper inventory has been increasing, but there was a decline last week. With the improvement of the import price ratio, some goods in the bonded area have been cleared and entered the domestic market [51].